[Chiku’unsai TANABE]
A Japanese bamboo craft artist.
-First Generation Chiku’unsai (1877-1937)
Chiku’unsai I was born Tuneo as the third son of a medical doctor employed by the Shogun of the Amagasaki domain. There was a bamboo craft studio near his house in his childhood, so Chiku’un I was attracted to the beauty of bamboo crafts, then he became a discipline of Waichisai Wada I, a bamboo crafts artist in Osaka at the age of 12.
Chuku’un I became independent in 1901 when he was 22, and named himself “Chuku’unsai Tanabe” that was a title given by his master. In 1911, he moved his studio and house to Sakai city in Osaka prefecture.
Died on May 26th, 1037 at the age of 61.
- Second Generation Chiku’unsai (1910-2000)
The eldest son of Chiku’un I. He was born Toshio in Osaka in 1910.
Chiku’unsai learned bamboo craft skills under his father and won his first prize in the Nitten Exhibition in 1931. He succeeded Chuku’unsai II in 1937 then did his activity mainly at the Nitten Exhibition and won the special prize in 1991. He was a judge and a councillor of the Nitten.
In 1991 he transferred the name to his son and named “Ichikusai”.
He is known for openwork designed bamboo crafts such as tortoise-shell knitting and scaled-pattern knitting.
Died on February 24th, in 2000 at the age of 89.
-Third Generation Chiku’unsai (1940-2014)
Chiku’unsai III was born in Sakai city, Osaka as the eldest son of Chiku’unsai II. His original name was Hisao.
He learned the skills of bamboo crafts from his childhood and studied metalwork and carving at the metal art course of Osaka City Crafts and Art High School. After his graduation, he refined his skills under Shochikusai Okubo, a bamboo craftsman who was a discipline of Chiku’unsai II, then entered Department of Design of Faculty of Musashino University of Art. After his graduation from Musashino university of Arts in 1964, he returned to his hometown Sakai and refined his skills under Tadayoshi Tsukada, a pupil of Chiku’unsai I and concentrated to create bamboo crafts.
In 1969 he succeeded the name “Kotake” from his father and exhibited his works to the Nitten Exhibition, Japan Modern Art Crafts Exhibition and other exhibitions as well as his personal exhibitions. It was 1991 when he succeeded Chiku’unsai III at the age of 51.
He produced architectural bamboo crafts used yatake, bamboo used for making arrows.
Died on March 17 in 2014, at the age of 75.

Chiku’unsai’s second son, Takeo succeeded the name “Kotake Tanabe in 2006 and produces bamboo crafts to inherit traditional skills of the family.